3 Reasons To Hire Your Own DUI Attorney Vs. Using A Public Defender
As you might already know, it is within your rights to secure a public defender if you can't afford to hire your own attorney. If you are short on cash, you could be thinking about taking this step. After all, you might already be worried about how a DUI will impact your limited finances. Before you sign up to be defended by a public defender, though, you might want to think about hiring your own DUI attorney. A few reasons for this are listed below.
1. The Cost Might Not Be as Significant As You Think
Of course, hiring your own DUI lawyer is going to come with a cost. However, the cost might not be as significant as you think. There are great DUI attorneys out there who charge very reasonable legal fees for their services. You might also be able to negotiate some type of payment plan with your attorney to make his or her fees a little more reasonable. You may also find that meeting with a few different DUI attorneys in your area will make it possible for you to find a lawyer who charges more affordable rates.
2. You'll Have the Chance to Pick Your Own Attorney
One bad thing about working with a public defender is the fact that you cannot pick your own lawyer. Instead, you will be represented by the public defender who is assigned to you. This means that you will not have the chance to determine if the attorney is well-qualified to handle your case and if he or she is a good fit for you. If you hire your own DUI attorney, on the other hand, you will have the freedom to pick the lawyer who you think will be able to represent you best.
3. Your Attorney Might Have More Time to Dedicate to Your Case
It is important to hire an attorney who can dedicate the appropriate amount of time and effort to your case. If you work with a public defender, you might find that he or she is overworked and underpaid. Even if the public defender is a good lawyer overall, he or she might not be able to dedicate the amount of time to your case that you truly deserve. If you hire a DUI attorney of your own, however, you can help make sure that you choose someone who is actually able to dedicate the time to defend you properly in court.